Page:A Voyage to Terra Australis Volume 2.djvu/616

602 differ from the greater part, but not from all the Rosaceæ; and in other respects it does not appear to belong to any subdivision of that order hitherto proposed.

In the structure of its Ascidia it agrees with Nepenthes, with which, however, it has no other point of resemblance.

The Ascidia or Pitchers of Cephalotus were observed to be in general nearly half filled with a watery fluid, in which great numbers of a small species of Ant were frequently found drowned. This fluid, which had a slightly sweet taste, may possibly be in part a secretion of the Pitcher itself, but more probably consists merely of rain-water received and preserved in it. The lid of the Pitcher in the full grown state was found either accurately closing its mouth or having an erect position and therefore leaving it entirely open; and it is not unlikely that the position of the lid is determined by the state of the atmosphere, or even by other external causes.

Ord. Nat. Urticeæ, inter Brosimum et Olmediam.

Syst. Linn. Monæcia Tetrandria

Involucrum multiflorum, basi orbiculata florifera, apice multifido. Calyx 4-ph. Stam. 4.

Involucrum uniflorum, urceolatum, apice multifidum. Calyx 0. Ovarium cum involucro cohærens, monospermum, ovulo pendulo. Stylus bipartitus. Drupa ex involucro aucto formata. Semen exalbuminosum. Embryonis radicula supera.

. Tab. 5.

A shrub or very small tree observed in barren stony places, on the shores of the Company's Islands, adjacent to Arnhem's Land, on the North coast of New Holland, in about 12° S. lat.; bearing both flowers and ripe fruit in February 1803.

DESC. Frutex orgyalis ramosissimus glaber lactescens. Ramuli teretes. Folia alterna, petiolata, stipulata, oblonga cum brevi acumine, basi inæquali subcordata, glaberrima integerrima coriacesa, suprà nigro-viridia nitida subtus viridiora, venis fere rectangulis juxta marginem anastomozantibus, venulis divaricatis, dum sex uncias longa ultra